Simplified Moment Redistribution of Hybrid HPS 485W Bridge Girders in Negative Bending

Abstract

Simplified moment redistribution procedures based on shakedown have recently been approved by AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (AASHTO 2004). These procedures are currently only applicable for homogeneous girders, and thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate whether these procedures can be further applied for hybrid HPS 485W girders. A parametric study is carried out using validated three-dimensional finite-element (FE) analyses to study the inelastic behavior of hybrid HPS 485W girders in negative bending for this purpose. The effective plastic moments obtained from the FE studies are compared with those from the proposed prediction equations, where good correlation is observed. A design example of a three-span slab-on-girder bridge with hybrid HPS 485W girders using both elastic design and the simplified moment redistribution procedures is also presented, where it is shown that the use of moment redistribution procedures results in a negative bending section that is 13% lighter than the corresponding elastic design.